Revolving distributor



Oct. 21, 1952 BAIER 2,614,709

REVOLVING DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 20, 1947 I NVENTOR. JOHN R KM BAIER.

Oct. 21, 1952 J. F. BAIER REVOLVING DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 20, 1947 11v JOHN FRANK 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 VENTOR.

ATTO EYS.

BA! ER.

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 REVOLVING DISTRIBUTOR John Frank Baier, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor'to Arthur G. McKee & 00., Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware ApplicationJune 20, 1947, Serial No. 755,935

Claims. (01.214-37) This invention relates generally to revolving distributors for blast furnaces and particularly to novel construction-of small bell seats and novel means for sealing against escape of gases and solids from the furnace around the small bell seat. I In prior blast furnaces having revolving distributors the construction and arrangement of certain ofthe parts were not conducive to avoidance of wear or speedy replacement of worn parts. The small bell seat consisted of two semitubular parts connected together for about onehalf of their length beginning at the lower end. It had a radially long flang extending outwardly from its upper end and this flange was connected at its outer edge to a ring gear which carried a track insert to run on supporting rollers. The hopper above the small bell'seat was supported on the said flange. In this construction the bell seat flangeafforded the full support for the bell seat proper as well as the hopper thereabove. Packing was disposed to engage the outer surface of the small bell seat immediately below the flange of that seat. Since the parts of the seat were not connected for the full length of the seat these parts did not always match perfectly to form asmooth outer surface, the misaligned edges wore the packing and caused gas leakage past it. Abrasive solids suspended in the furnace gases became embedded in the packing and caused wearof the outer surface of the seat, which wear was often extensive enough to permit escape of gases around the outside of the small bell seat. Since the packing was so close to the flange on the upper end of the small bell seat it could be replaced only with considerable difficulty unless the seat and superstructure were lifted. When the seat were enough to require replacement, or when it was broken in use, the hopper, ring gear and certain of the rollers had to be removed from the furnace in order to remove the seat. Thus, the former construction necessitated the expenditure of considerable amounts of time to replace the small bell or the packing therearound.

. maintained substantially completely free from seat abrasive solids so that the useful life of thefparts engaging the packing thereby may be prolonged. I, contemplate in this connection a grease reservoir as part of the packing gland construction and-more or less constantly overflowing grease from the reservoir into the furnaceso that solids accumulating in the inner opening of the reservoir will be continually ejected therefrom and not permitted to penetrate to'a point where they could damage the bearing surfaces. Furthermore, by virtue of this invention it is possible, when the bearing parts are sufiiciently heavy, to dispense with the conventional side rollers of blast furnace distributors which, are provided .to take up side thrusts and .center the distributor.

Those skilled in the art will gain a further understanding of this invention upon referring to the drawings accompanying andforming. a Y

part of this specification, in which Figure 1 'is'a fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in section of a revolving blastfur- 'nace distributor embodying one form jqf. this invention; 3

' Figure 2 isa side, elevational vi'ew 'takenfrom line 2-2 of'Figure -1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-53 of Figure'lyand Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of' the sealing or packing means illustratedinliigurel.

In general, the apparatus of this invention comprises a rotatable small bell seat,- an annu lar girder supporting the seat and havingja skirt defining an annular space with the seat} and packing means between the skirt, and a fixed member to prevent the escape; ofi'blast, furnace gases around the skirt. I V 1 The small bell seat I0 consists oftwo semitubular parts secured together throughout their full length and having outstanding flanges. l Lat theirv top ends which rest upon and areusupported by annular girder l2. The hopper -l 3 rests on the upper end of small bell sea-t l0 and is likewise supported by the annular girder l2. This annular girder l2 includes, a depending skirt [4- at its inner edge which is spaced radi' ally apart from seat In to define therewith an annular space l5. Girder I2' is provided at its outer-edge with a track insert" I6 positioned to run on supporting rollers l1 presently tobedescribed. A ring gear [8 rests on the-top of girder 2 at its outer edge and includes teeth l9 constituting an annular rack to engage with a driving pinion 20, a vertical abutment surface. 2| toengage the smooth peripheries of side guide rollers 22, and a top track surface 23 to engage the under sides of rollers 24.

Rollers H, 22 and 24 are rotatably carried by three columns 27 secured to and extending upward from the upper end of the furnace. Columns 21 are connected to each other and braced by means of three beams 28 and are disposed apart so that the centers of the beams are close to the sides of hopper Rollers l1 and 24 are frustro-conical and in each column they are disposed with opposed surfaces sloping divergently inward toward the axis of seat l and hopper I Means for preventing the escape of furnace gas between the fixed upper part of the furnace and the rotating girder comprises packing in the form of two packing rings 50 and and a stufiing box 52, packing 53 and a packing gland ring 54 associated therewith. The ring 50 which depends from skirt |2 of girder I is bifurcated at its lower end, whereit has inner and outer parallel, vertical walls defining an annular space. This ring is preferably made in several parts, for example four, for ready assembly and disassembly. The cooperating stationary ring 5| is likewise suitably composed of four quarter sections and is fastened to the furnace, extending upwardly into the said annular space between the inner and outer walls of ring 50. The outer wall 55 of ring 5| is detachable but when assembled therewith is disposed close to the outer surface of wall 55 of ring 50. Packing 53 is disposed between walls 55 and 5B, and is compressed against both these members by stuffing box 52 which may be secured to the upper portion of ring 5| and packing gland ring 54 removably attached to box 52. Ring 54 is made up of four quarter sections while the box 52 is .made up of six sections, four of which define arcs of 80 degrees and two of which define arcs of degrees, to facilitate replacement of parts and inspection and cleaning of wall or ring 56. Lubricant may be forced into the spaces between thebifurcated walls of the sealing rings through a plurality of openings 51 and may fill the spaces, which then constitute a grease reservoir, to the extent that it may overflow the upper end of the inner wall of ring 5| and carry abrasive solids away from the bearings and back into the furnace. When box 52 and wall 56 are sufliciently heavy and strong they may constitute the distributor centering and side thrust bearing parts referred to above and side rollers 22 may be eliminated. s

Packing 53 comprises a mixture of asbestos and copper wireimpregnated with oil, or preferably grease, in order not to abrade the moving parts coming into contact with the packing.

. When one of the parts such as packing ring 5|,

for instance, is to be replaced, it is only necessary to disengage from each other and the furnace the quarter-circular sections comprising the ring, similarly disengage the elements comprising 'stufiing box 52, disengage one of the sections of ring and remove these parts from the assembly. A new ring 5| may then be installed and the stuffing box reassembled and replaced. The seat, hopper, driving means and supporting means of this assembly may thus be undisturbed and much time, efiort and expense may thus be saved by comparison with replacement operations involved in the heretofore conventional assemblies of this general type.

Although I have described this invention with reference to one preferred, I contemplate other forms, as will be apparent from the appended claims. I have in mind, for instance, making rings 50 and 5| in more or fewer than four sections and making stuffing box 52 in more or fewer than six sections, if worthwhile advantages may thereby be realized.

Having thus descirbed the present invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. Sealing means for a revolving distributor of a blast furnace to prevent the escape of gases from the furnace around the small bell seat of said distributor comprising an annular skirt surrounding and connected to said seat for rotation therewith and defining an annular space with the seat, said skirt comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments temporarily secured substantially fluid tightly together, and a stationary rigid metal packing ring surrounding said seat spaced therefrom and opposed to a portion of said skirt, said packing ring comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments secured detachably together and fastened to and extending upwardly from the top of the furnace.

2. Sealing means for a revolving distributor of a blast furnace to prevent the escape of gases from the furnace around the small bell seat of said distributor comprising an annular skirt surroundingand connected to said seat for rotation therewith and defining an annular space with the seat, said skirt comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments temporarily secured substantially fluid tightly together, a stationary rigid metal packing ring surrounding said seat and spaced therefrom and comprising a plurality of arcuate segments secured together, and a stationary annular stuffing box surrounding said packing ring and cooperating therewith to define an annular space to receive a portion of said skirt, said stuffing box comprising a plurality of arcuately-formed segments temporarily secured substantially fluid-tightly together.

3. Sealing means for a revolving distributor of a blast furnace to prevent the escape of gases from the furnace around the small bell seat of said distributor comprising an annular skirt surrounding and connected to said seat for rotation therewith and defining an annular space with the seat, said skirt comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments temporarily secured substantially fiuid tightly together and having bifurcated lower edge portions defining an inverted channel extending substantially around said seat and spaced therefrom, and a stationary rigid metal packing ring surrounding said seat and spaced therefrom having a portion disposed in said channel to define with said bifurcated portion a passageway for a fluid, said ring comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments secured detachably together and fastened to and extending upwardly from the top of the furnace.

I 4. Sealing means for a revolving distributor of a blast furnace to prevent the escape of gases from the furnace around the small bell seat of said distributor comprising an annular skirt surrounding and connected to said seat for rotation therewith and defining an annular space with the seat, said skirt comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments temporarily secured substantially fluid tightly together, and a packing assembly cooperating with said skirt including a rigid metal packing ring having an annular upstanding portion, surrounding said seat and spaced therefrom, and an annular stuffing box cooperating with said packing ring to define an annular channel outside said ring in which to receive. a portion of said skirt and to serve as a reservoir for packing grease, said packing assembly being provided with a plurality of spaced openings for introduction of packing grease into said annular channel, and said stufling box comprising a plurality of arcuately-formed segments temporarily secured'substantially fluid-tightly together. p

5. Sealing means for a revolving distributor of a blast furnace to prevent the escape of gases from the furnace around the small bell seat of said distributor comprising an annular skirt surrounding and connected to said seat for rotation therewith and defining an annular space with the seat, said skirt comprising a plurality of arouately formed segments temporarily secured substantially fluid tightly together and having free lower end portions spaced from said seat, and a stationaryrigid metal annular stufiing box engaging said free lower end portions and centering and guiding said seat and cooperating with the said end portions to define an annular space for receipt of solid packing, said stufiing box being fastened to and extending upwardly from the top of the furnace and comprising a plurality of arcuately formed segments temporarily secured substantially fluid-tightly together.

JOHN FRANK BAIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,622,461 McKee Mar. 29, 1927 1,872,251 Cowin Aug. 16, 1932 1,891,821 Juengling Dec. 20, 1932 1,914,891 McAllister June 20, 1933 1,917,674 Weaver July 11, 1933 2,419,079 Jaxtheimer Apr. 15, 1947 2,429,481

MOhr Oct. 21, 1947 

